1
00:00:00,030 --> 00:00:04,710
so I encourage you if we come along to
2
00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:06,509
that which will be great filled in your
3
00:00:04,710 --> 00:00:11,130
Bibles are telling me to the book of
4
00:00:06,509 --> 00:00:17,270
Acts Acts chapter 20 Acts chapter 20
5
00:00:11,130 --> 00:00:21,150
verse 35 Acts chapter 20 verse 35 it
6
00:00:17,270 --> 00:00:22,890
says this I've shown you in every way by
7
00:00:21,150 --> 00:00:25,019
laboring like this that you must support
8
00:00:22,890 --> 00:00:27,359
the weak and remember the words of the
9
00:00:25,019 --> 00:00:30,060
Lord Jesus that he said it's more
10
00:00:27,359 --> 00:00:32,070
blessed to give than it is to receive I
11
00:00:30,060 --> 00:00:33,719
read that again I've shown you in every
12
00:00:32,070 --> 00:00:35,460
way by laboring like this that you must
13
00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:37,110
support the meat of the weak remember
14
00:00:35,460 --> 00:00:39,420
the words of the Lord Jesus that he said
15
00:00:37,110 --> 00:00:41,160
it's more blessed to give than it is to
16
00:00:39,420 --> 00:00:43,860
receive title my message today is called
17
00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:45,390
get blessed let's pray father I thank
18
00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:47,399
you for your word I just ask and pray
19
00:00:45,390 --> 00:00:49,289
that you would bring your Kingdom
20
00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:51,660
mindset into our heart so I thank you
21
00:00:49,289 --> 00:00:52,649
and praise you for a lot in Jesus name
22
00:00:51,660 --> 00:00:55,440
Amen
23
00:00:52,649 --> 00:00:58,010
as a preacher and I've been preaching
24
00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:00,629
now for twenty years you always know
25
00:00:58,010 --> 00:01:04,110
certain topics will get certain types of
26
00:01:00,629 --> 00:01:05,850
responses and so and so as a preacher
27
00:01:04,110 --> 00:01:08,010
there are some topics that are very easy
28
00:01:05,850 --> 00:01:10,110
to preach on and there are some others
29
00:01:08,010 --> 00:01:11,610
where literally you can sometimes get a
30
00:01:10,110 --> 00:01:13,409
little bit of kickback when you talk
31
00:01:11,610 --> 00:01:14,970
about it but the scripture says the
32
00:01:13,409 --> 00:01:17,610
Apostle Paul preached on the whole
33
00:01:14,970 --> 00:01:19,710
counsel of God and so as a preacher it
34
00:01:17,610 --> 00:01:21,150
is important that there are a number of
35
00:01:19,710 --> 00:01:23,100
topics regardless of whether they're
36
00:01:21,150 --> 00:01:24,689
controversial regardless of whether
37
00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:27,630
they're popular that as a preacher it's
38
00:01:24,689 --> 00:01:30,060
important for us to talk about here
39
00:01:27,630 --> 00:01:32,610
Jesus says it's quoted by the Apostle
40
00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:35,280
Paul quoting Jesus and Jesus said it's
41
00:01:32,610 --> 00:01:37,650
more blessed to give than it is to
42
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,689
receive now that's a verse that I had
43
00:01:37,650 --> 00:01:41,939
heard many times growing up in church
44
00:01:39,689 --> 00:01:44,700
but I had misunderstood what it meant
45
00:01:41,939 --> 00:01:47,369
when I heard the term it's more blessed
46
00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:50,040
to give I just equated blessing with how
47
00:01:47,369 --> 00:01:53,460
you feel so I thought it meant it feels
48
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:55,290
nicer to give than it is to receive but
49
00:01:53,460 --> 00:01:56,360
who knows as you live life that's not
50
00:01:55,290 --> 00:01:58,979
necessarily true
51
00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,689
but actually I'll be honest with you
52
00:01:58,979 --> 00:02:02,280
actually feels a lot nicer to receive
53
00:02:00,689 --> 00:02:04,590
you know what I'm saying
54
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:07,290
that sometimes it actually hurts to give
55
00:02:04,590 --> 00:02:09,810
so the word it says blessed it's not
56
00:02:07,290 --> 00:02:11,069
actually talking about how we feel in
57
00:02:09,810 --> 00:02:12,130
the scripture when it talks about
58
00:02:11,069 --> 00:02:14,770
blessing there's
59
00:02:12,130 --> 00:02:15,940
always consequences as a result when God
60
00:02:14,770 --> 00:02:18,280
says I'm going to bless you this
61
00:02:15,940 --> 00:02:20,170
tangible outcomes and consequences that
62
00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,790
we see come into people's lives it's
63
00:02:20,170 --> 00:02:23,980
more than a feeling it's more than an
64
00:02:21,790 --> 00:02:26,530
ethereal thing it's actually things that
65
00:02:23,980 --> 00:02:28,420
we actually get to experience so when
66
00:02:26,530 --> 00:02:30,850
Jesus says it's more blessed to give
67
00:02:28,420 --> 00:02:32,560
than it is to receive he is basically
68
00:02:30,850 --> 00:02:35,230
saying that there's nothing wrong with
69
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,430
receiving in fact I know some people I
70
00:02:35,230 --> 00:02:38,410
don't know have you ever tried to give
71
00:02:36,430 --> 00:02:40,780
something to somebody and they haven't
72
00:02:38,410 --> 00:02:41,890
wanted to receive it and it's like you
73
00:02:40,780 --> 00:02:43,330
know and it's like that there's
74
00:02:41,890 --> 00:02:44,710
something that somehow there's something
75
00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:47,500
wrong with it there's no problem with
76
00:02:44,710 --> 00:02:49,030
receiving receiving is a blessing but
77
00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:51,370
the scripture he tells us that it's
78
00:02:49,030 --> 00:02:53,050
actually more blessed to give what does
79
00:02:51,370 --> 00:02:55,210
that mean it means that it's more
80
00:02:53,050 --> 00:02:57,400
blessing if you open up more of the
81
00:02:55,210 --> 00:02:58,810
blessings of God and positive tangible
82
00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,790
outcomes in your life than by simply
83
00:02:58,810 --> 00:03:02,710
receiving there's nothing wrong with
84
00:03:00,790 --> 00:03:04,810
receiving but it's actually more blessed
85
00:03:02,710 --> 00:03:06,160
to give and all through the scripture
86
00:03:04,810 --> 00:03:08,140
there are a number of things where it
87
00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:11,080
indicates that when you give these
88
00:03:08,140 --> 00:03:13,270
outcomes pop-open into your life and
89
00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,490
Jesus here is saying it's more blessed
90
00:03:13,270 --> 00:03:17,740
you are more blessed you access more of
91
00:03:15,490 --> 00:03:20,110
the blessings of God by giving than by
92
00:03:17,740 --> 00:03:21,400
simply receiving this has been a message
93
00:03:20,110 --> 00:03:23,950
this is something that I've been
94
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,750
passionate about for around about 20
95
00:03:23,950 --> 00:03:28,600
years in fact 10 years ago I actually
96
00:03:25,750 --> 00:03:30,310
wrote a book about it and arm but I also
97
00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,140
found that there was sometimes there
98
00:03:30,310 --> 00:03:33,820
were people who kind of question my
99
00:03:32,140 --> 00:03:36,070
motives when I was actually talking
100
00:03:33,820 --> 00:03:37,660
about it I remember one time I was
101
00:03:36,070 --> 00:03:39,460
actually at a local shopping center
102
00:03:37,660 --> 00:03:41,620
talking to one of the kids from my youth
103
00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:42,340
group and a lady came up to me and she
104
00:03:41,620 --> 00:03:45,010
said excuse me
105
00:03:42,340 --> 00:03:46,000
you've been Itoko I said yeah and and I
106
00:03:45,010 --> 00:03:48,970
thought you know she was wanting an
107
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,620
autograph or something and and I was
108
00:03:48,970 --> 00:03:52,480
getting getting ready to sign and she
109
00:03:50,620 --> 00:03:53,980
goes I just want to let you know now
110
00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,110
what had happened was our senior pastor
111
00:03:53,980 --> 00:03:58,360
it asked me to do a series on giving at
112
00:03:56,110 --> 00:03:59,950
our church for a few weeks and it really
113
00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,380
lifted the lid of some people's lives
114
00:03:59,950 --> 00:04:03,400
and and so I did that and but she was
115
00:04:02,380 --> 00:04:05,440
obviously one of the people who was
116
00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,970
going there and she came up to me she
117
00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,850
goes oh listen I've been coming to
118
00:04:06,970 --> 00:04:10,959
church for a few years and she said but
119
00:04:08,850 --> 00:04:12,820
lately you've been doing talking about
120
00:04:10,959 --> 00:04:14,320
giving the last few weeks I said yeah
121
00:04:12,820 --> 00:04:17,230
that's right she has I just want to let
122
00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:19,720
you know I'm sick of it and she goes she
123
00:04:17,230 --> 00:04:21,190
goes I've heard enough she said I know a
124
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,510
lot of other people are probably sick of
125
00:04:21,190 --> 00:04:24,060
it too and I'm just letting you know you
126
00:04:22,510 --> 00:04:26,160
got to stop talking about it
127
00:04:24,060 --> 00:04:28,430
and so and I was like cuz of a
128
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,550
completely blindsided me I'm like oh
129
00:04:28,430 --> 00:04:33,000
thanks
130
00:04:29,550 --> 00:04:35,970
okay and and the kid I was with he
131
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,830
looked at he goes whoa you know and I
132
00:04:35,970 --> 00:04:40,530
said welcome to my world champ anyway
133
00:04:37,830 --> 00:04:42,240
and so and after that I thought oh man
134
00:04:40,530 --> 00:04:44,940
you know I don't want to put people off
135
00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,800
by talking about it and I thought you
136
00:04:44,940 --> 00:04:49,230
know what I'll do I won't talk about it
137
00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,030
I'll just keep it quiet I'll just
138
00:04:49,230 --> 00:04:52,860
believe God for myself and I will never
139
00:04:51,030 --> 00:04:54,840
talk about giving and then I made the
140
00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:58,950
mistake of bringing that to the Lord and
141
00:04:54,840 --> 00:05:01,860
and he rebuked me and he said don't you
142
00:04:58,950 --> 00:05:04,200
dare he said you care about your
143
00:05:01,860 --> 00:05:06,270
reputation more than you do my people
144
00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:08,610
the scripture says it's money guys
145
00:05:06,270 --> 00:05:11,340
you're trying to shield my people from
146
00:05:08,610 --> 00:05:14,010
my blessing and he said so don't you
147
00:05:11,340 --> 00:05:15,810
dare do that and so and I said okay and
148
00:05:14,010 --> 00:05:16,890
I thought like because the motive was
149
00:05:15,810 --> 00:05:18,930
not to try and get more money out of
150
00:05:16,890 --> 00:05:20,700
people the motive is that people
151
00:05:18,930 --> 00:05:22,500
actually the scripture says people are
152
00:05:20,700 --> 00:05:24,540
more blessed when they give they're
153
00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:27,270
better off I would not be doing my job
154
00:05:24,540 --> 00:05:30,000
as a pastor if I withheld the potential
155
00:05:27,270 --> 00:05:31,530
for that blessing to pop open into
156
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,790
people's lives remember another time
157
00:05:31,530 --> 00:05:33,990
we're at a conference I was writing
158
00:05:32,790 --> 00:05:35,700
conference and we're doing an offering
159
00:05:33,990 --> 00:05:37,140
and in the midst of the offering the
160
00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:39,840
back three rows got up and walked out
161
00:05:37,140 --> 00:05:41,550
and no growth then they came from a
162
00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:43,260
church that didn't want you to talk and
163
00:05:41,550 --> 00:05:45,150
we were just doing a normal offering and
164
00:05:43,260 --> 00:05:46,290
and I knew they were leaving because we
165
00:05:45,150 --> 00:05:48,570
were taking up an offering at the
166
00:05:46,290 --> 00:05:49,950
conference and I thought oh I thought
167
00:05:48,570 --> 00:05:52,110
and the guy was talking I thought maybe
168
00:05:49,950 --> 00:05:53,430
I should stop him you know and then I
169
00:05:52,110 --> 00:05:54,419
felt and I said law what do you want to
170
00:05:53,430 --> 00:05:56,400
do you want to stop him and I want to
171
00:05:54,419 --> 00:05:58,260
offend anybody and he said and he goes
172
00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,930
what's your motive for taking up the
173
00:05:58,260 --> 00:06:03,180
offering I said well my motive is that
174
00:06:00,930 --> 00:06:05,520
the people will be blessed and he said
175
00:06:03,180 --> 00:06:07,800
well why stop it was it oh okay
176
00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:10,020
and so I realized that it's something
177
00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,850
that the world has a mindset about
178
00:06:10,020 --> 00:06:13,470
certain things I believe the enemy has
179
00:06:11,850 --> 00:06:15,630
tried to infiltrate the mindset of
180
00:06:13,470 --> 00:06:17,760
people and try and turn people against
181
00:06:15,630 --> 00:06:19,650
this but the scripture is very clear all
182
00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:22,260
through it it is more blessed to give
183
00:06:19,650 --> 00:06:25,470
than it is to receive and so I'm gonna
184
00:06:22,260 --> 00:06:27,690
do a mini-series on the topic of the
185
00:06:25,470 --> 00:06:28,740
consequences of giving and I'm gonna
186
00:06:27,690 --> 00:06:30,780
call it get blessed and I'm breaking
187
00:06:28,740 --> 00:06:32,520
every rule in the book for actually
188
00:06:30,780 --> 00:06:34,919
doing it if you're gonna do a series
189
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,210
like that in your church number one
190
00:06:34,919 --> 00:06:37,290
you would go and do it to the lowest
191
00:06:36,210 --> 00:06:39,810
giving campus
192
00:06:37,290 --> 00:06:40,710
I know but I'm not going to do it to
193
00:06:39,810 --> 00:06:43,530
them I'm going to do it to this one
194
00:06:40,710 --> 00:06:46,260
which is actually quite good also you
195
00:06:43,530 --> 00:06:48,510
wouldn't do it in holidays but I'm going
196
00:06:46,260 --> 00:06:50,430
to be doing it in the midst of holidays
197
00:06:48,510 --> 00:06:52,890
and you wouldn't do it when you actually
198
00:06:50,430 --> 00:06:54,780
don't need it and the reality is as a
199
00:06:52,890 --> 00:06:56,040
church we've just done our audit reports
200
00:06:54,780 --> 00:06:57,450
and our financials we have the
201
00:06:56,040 --> 00:07:03,210
healthiest financial year we've had in
202
00:06:57,450 --> 00:07:05,400
many many years as a church we are not
203
00:07:03,210 --> 00:07:08,400
in a position of lack we are not in a
204
00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:10,590
position of desperation we're fine and
205
00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,270
so and so if you're thinking oh you're
206
00:07:10,590 --> 00:07:14,670
exactly doing that because you know I'm
207
00:07:12,270 --> 00:07:16,200
not well literally I just felt God put
208
00:07:14,670 --> 00:07:18,270
in this little window we have before the
209
00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,860
21 days our breakthrough to just share
210
00:07:18,270 --> 00:07:22,110
on some of these principles but please
211
00:07:19,860 --> 00:07:24,810
hear my heart know my heart the reason
212
00:07:22,110 --> 00:07:26,160
and the motivation is because I want if
213
00:07:24,810 --> 00:07:28,890
I've got a chance to lead a group of
214
00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:32,310
people I want them to know that it is
215
00:07:28,890 --> 00:07:34,950
more blessed to give than it is to
216
00:07:32,310 --> 00:07:35,940
receive and so buckle up next couple of
217
00:07:34,950 --> 00:07:37,470
weeks and I'm just going to share a
218
00:07:35,940 --> 00:07:39,930
couple of things that the scripture
219
00:07:37,470 --> 00:07:43,800
indicates about some of the consequences
220
00:07:39,930 --> 00:07:48,480
of giving amen and so and we won't be
221
00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:49,830
doing an offering after this you know
222
00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,720
and I mean it won't be I'm not going to
223
00:07:49,830 --> 00:07:53,760
sign you up for any pledges I'm not
224
00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,400
gonna sign you up for anything please
225
00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,780
hear my heart that the reason is it's
226
00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,640
because we believe it's more blessed
227
00:07:57,780 --> 00:08:02,010
it's just the mindset it's a topic in
228
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,720
the midst of Scripture amen and there'll
229
00:08:02,010 --> 00:08:05,910
be other times we'll preach on unpopular
230
00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,260
topics like holiness and purity and that
231
00:08:05,910 --> 00:08:09,050
sort of thing as well so don't worry
232
00:08:07,260 --> 00:08:12,840
about it
233
00:08:09,050 --> 00:08:15,060
amen so with that in mind throw me in
234
00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,800
the book of Malachi Malachi chapter 3
235
00:08:15,060 --> 00:08:17,880
and if you got to do something on giving
236
00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,800
at a church you shouldn't talk about
237
00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:23,870
Malachi 3 but that's what I'm going to
238
00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:27,870
do so Malachi chapter 3 verses wonderful
239
00:08:23,870 --> 00:08:29,880
says this behold I send my messenger and
240
00:08:27,870 --> 00:08:31,470
he will prepare the way before me and
241
00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:34,320
the Lord whom you seek will suddenly
242
00:08:31,470 --> 00:08:36,150
come to his temple even the messenger of
243
00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,370
the Covenant whom you delight behold he
244
00:08:36,150 --> 00:08:39,960
is coming says the Lord of Hosts but who
245
00:08:38,370 --> 00:08:42,150
can enjoy the day of his coming and who
246
00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:44,820
can stand when he appears for his like a
247
00:08:42,150 --> 00:08:47,460
refiners fire like a laundry soap he
248
00:08:44,820 --> 00:08:49,650
will sit as a refiner and a purifier of
249
00:08:47,460 --> 00:08:50,730
silver he will purify the sons of Levi
250
00:08:49,650 --> 00:08:52,500
and purge
251
00:08:50,730 --> 00:08:54,000
as gold and silver that they may offer
252
00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:56,279
to the Lord and offering in
253
00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,839
righteousness then the offering of Judah
254
00:08:56,279 --> 00:09:00,420
and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the
255
00:08:57,839 --> 00:09:02,070
Lord as in the days of old as in the
256
00:09:00,420 --> 00:09:04,680
former years now I'm going to jump
257
00:09:02,070 --> 00:09:07,620
forward to Malachi chapter 3 verse 8 and
258
00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:09,540
it says this well the man Rob God yet
259
00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:11,459
you have robbed me but you say in what
260
00:09:09,540 --> 00:09:13,350
way have we robbed you in tithes and
261
00:09:11,459 --> 00:09:14,820
offerings your curse with a curse for
262
00:09:13,350 --> 00:09:16,709
you've robbed me even this whole nation
263
00:09:14,820 --> 00:09:19,440
bring all the tithes into the storehouse
264
00:09:16,709 --> 00:09:21,209
so there may be food in my house try me
265
00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,470
now and this is a Lord of Hosts if I
266
00:09:21,209 --> 00:09:24,750
will not open for you the windows of
267
00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:26,370
heaven pour out for you such blessing
268
00:09:24,750 --> 00:09:28,350
that there will not be enough room to
269
00:09:26,370 --> 00:09:30,180
receive it and I'll rebuke the Devourer
270
00:09:28,350 --> 00:09:31,980
for your sakes so that he will not
271
00:09:30,180 --> 00:09:33,720
destroy the fruit of the ground nor
272
00:09:31,980 --> 00:09:35,220
shall the vine fail to bear fruit for
273
00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,260
you and the field says the Lord of hosts
274
00:09:35,220 --> 00:09:40,170
and all nations will call you blessed
275
00:09:37,260 --> 00:09:42,810
for you will be a delightful land says
276
00:09:40,170 --> 00:09:45,870
the Lord of hosts in here there are a
277
00:09:42,810 --> 00:09:48,480
number of things that indicate some of
278
00:09:45,870 --> 00:09:51,839
the blessings that are released as a
279
00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:54,480
result of actually generosity towards
280
00:09:51,839 --> 00:09:56,550
God's kingdom the first one the first
281
00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:59,850
outcome and positive outcome of giving
282
00:09:56,550 --> 00:10:02,250
is number one it actually blesses god it
283
00:09:59,850 --> 00:10:03,630
actually blesses God it's not a topic
284
00:10:02,250 --> 00:10:07,260
where it's like God doesn't actually
285
00:10:03,630 --> 00:10:09,449
care that actually our generosity is one
286
00:10:07,260 --> 00:10:12,389
of the ways we worship Him and it
287
00:10:09,449 --> 00:10:14,279
actually is a blessing towards him you
288
00:10:12,389 --> 00:10:15,630
know there's been times of Hope people
289
00:10:14,279 --> 00:10:17,730
saying when you talk about this topic
290
00:10:15,630 --> 00:10:19,500
and people say things like well no
291
00:10:17,730 --> 00:10:20,910
that's something for the Old Testament
292
00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:21,360
that's not something that's relevant
293
00:10:20,910 --> 00:10:23,370
today
294
00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,800
but if we look in Malachi chapter 3
295
00:10:23,370 --> 00:10:27,899
that's not actually the case if you meet
296
00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:30,329
Mela if you read Malachi the reason why
297
00:10:27,899 --> 00:10:32,790
I read Malachi chapter 3 verses 1 to 4
298
00:10:30,329 --> 00:10:34,980
that's actually setting up before the
299
00:10:32,790 --> 00:10:36,870
New Testament so Malachi is the last
300
00:10:34,980 --> 00:10:37,889
book of the Old Testament there's a 400
301
00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:40,769
period called the intertestamental
302
00:10:37,889 --> 00:10:42,839
period and then the New Testament starts
303
00:10:40,769 --> 00:10:45,240
and he is here at the start of Malachi
304
00:10:42,839 --> 00:10:47,880
chapter 3 predicting what he's saying
305
00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,860
he's actually prophesying there about
306
00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,899
the coming of John the Baptist and
307
00:10:49,860 --> 00:10:53,699
actually prophesying about the coming of
308
00:10:51,899 --> 00:10:54,720
Christ so he is saying this is what's
309
00:10:53,699 --> 00:10:57,180
going to happen they're going to come
310
00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:59,519
and then he says after that after they
311
00:10:57,180 --> 00:11:01,920
come in Malachi chapter 3 verse 4 he
312
00:10:59,519 --> 00:11:04,290
says then the offering of Judah and
313
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,329
Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord
314
00:11:04,290 --> 00:11:08,880
as in the days of old as in the former
315
00:11:06,329 --> 00:11:10,920
years so what are you saying there he's
316
00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,240
not saying that when they come there
317
00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,730
actually won't be any more generosity
318
00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,230
from people to the house of God he's
319
00:11:14,730 --> 00:11:18,149
actually saying it's going to be done
320
00:11:16,230 --> 00:11:20,670
with the right motive and it's actually
321
00:11:18,149 --> 00:11:23,190
going to be pleasing because before this
322
00:11:20,670 --> 00:11:24,779
in verse 3 of Malachi chapter 3 he
323
00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:27,870
actually says then people will give
324
00:11:24,779 --> 00:11:29,100
offerings in righteousness so he doesn't
325
00:11:27,870 --> 00:11:31,019
say they're going to give offerings of
326
00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:33,360
righteousness it's not like I offer him
327
00:11:31,019 --> 00:11:35,339
my righteousness he's actually saying we
328
00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,350
give offerings in righteousness what
329
00:11:35,339 --> 00:11:39,600
does that mean it means that we still
330
00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:41,790
give to the kingdom of God but we do it
331
00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,470
with the right heart attitude one of the
332
00:11:41,790 --> 00:11:44,730
things that disappointed him here is
333
00:11:43,470 --> 00:11:46,620
that people were giving with the wrong
334
00:11:44,730 --> 00:11:49,079
motivation they weren't doing it the
335
00:11:46,620 --> 00:11:50,579
right way and he say no no no well I
336
00:11:49,079 --> 00:11:53,100
still want people to give but it's going
337
00:11:50,579 --> 00:11:55,740
to be pleasing when they do it with the
338
00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:57,240
right heart attitude that's why there's
339
00:11:55,740 --> 00:12:00,180
some interesting passages of Scripture
340
00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:01,920
there in the New Testament it says I'm
341
00:12:00,180 --> 00:12:05,850
going to jump forward in Matthew 23
342
00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:08,190
verse 23 Jesus says to the Pharisees he
343
00:12:05,850 --> 00:12:10,079
says woe to you scribes and Pharisees he
344
00:12:08,190 --> 00:12:12,540
says for you pay tithes of mint and
345
00:12:10,079 --> 00:12:15,180
anise and cummin and have neglected the
346
00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:17,819
weightier matters of the law justice and
347
00:12:15,180 --> 00:12:20,490
mercy and faith these you ought to have
348
00:12:17,819 --> 00:12:23,279
done without leaving the others undone
349
00:12:20,490 --> 00:12:25,410
now this was a really important verse in
350
00:12:23,279 --> 00:12:28,319
the New Testament it's the only time
351
00:12:25,410 --> 00:12:30,300
where Jesus addresses the biblical topic
352
00:12:28,319 --> 00:12:32,610
of tithing and that's talking about the
353
00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:35,579
contribution that people make to the
354
00:12:32,610 --> 00:12:37,290
house of God and so some people say well
355
00:12:35,579 --> 00:12:39,420
listen it's only in the Old Testaments
356
00:12:37,290 --> 00:12:40,949
not for the new but one of the keys to
357
00:12:39,420 --> 00:12:43,199
interpreting the Old Testament is
358
00:12:40,949 --> 00:12:44,940
whenever Christ affirmed something in
359
00:12:43,199 --> 00:12:47,370
the New Testament then it continues on
360
00:12:44,940 --> 00:12:49,290
anything that the Apostle Paul affirms
361
00:12:47,370 --> 00:12:52,139
in the New Testament then it actually
362
00:12:49,290 --> 00:12:53,639
continues on anything that they say in
363
00:12:52,139 --> 00:12:55,079
the opposite to the Old Testament I say
364
00:12:53,639 --> 00:12:56,430
what was done this way but now it's done
365
00:12:55,079 --> 00:12:58,740
that way then we take that
366
00:12:56,430 --> 00:13:01,319
interpretation but this is the only time
367
00:12:58,740 --> 00:13:03,660
that Jesus actually talks about this
368
00:13:01,319 --> 00:13:05,009
topic and he says to the Pharisees he
369
00:13:03,660 --> 00:13:08,610
goes you here but grits
370
00:13:05,009 --> 00:13:11,519
he said you tired everything even tie
371
00:13:08,610 --> 00:13:13,709
the herbs and spices he said but you
372
00:13:11,519 --> 00:13:17,880
neglect the weightier matters of the law
373
00:13:13,709 --> 00:13:21,480
and then he says this this you should do
374
00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:22,889
without neglecting the former he doesn't
375
00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,329
say this you should do and don't worry
376
00:13:22,889 --> 00:13:25,350
about giving anymore it's more important
377
00:13:24,329 --> 00:13:28,050
that you live a righteous life he
378
00:13:25,350 --> 00:13:30,360
doesn't say that he says keep doing that
379
00:13:28,050 --> 00:13:32,610
keep being generous but he says you've
380
00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,560
got to do it with the right attitude you
381
00:13:32,610 --> 00:13:36,839
can't neglect more important matters
382
00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:38,610
like having mercy and like having faith
383
00:13:36,839 --> 00:13:41,220
in justice that's what he's saying so
384
00:13:38,610 --> 00:13:44,399
the only time Jesus talks about it is
385
00:13:41,220 --> 00:13:46,769
it's a continuation why is that because
386
00:13:44,399 --> 00:13:49,019
it's actually a way that we honor and
387
00:13:46,769 --> 00:13:51,420
bless God it's actually an active way of
388
00:13:49,019 --> 00:13:53,519
worship what happened when Jesus was
389
00:13:51,420 --> 00:13:55,860
actually born the Bible says that he
390
00:13:53,519 --> 00:13:58,170
actually had some wise men come and what
391
00:13:55,860 --> 00:14:00,329
did wise men do the wise men do whatever
392
00:13:58,170 --> 00:14:02,550
you do when you approach a king and they
393
00:14:00,329 --> 00:14:04,680
actually brought him gifts of gold and
394
00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:06,690
frankincense and myrrh then we look at
395
00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:08,339
the New Testament church and in the New
396
00:14:06,690 --> 00:14:10,230
Testament church the Bible says that
397
00:14:08,339 --> 00:14:11,940
were people were selling properties and
398
00:14:10,230 --> 00:14:15,240
actually bringing that in and laying
399
00:14:11,940 --> 00:14:17,579
them at the feet of the Apostles so all
400
00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,889
the way through Scripture giving us one
401
00:14:17,579 --> 00:14:21,360
of the ways that we bless God that is
402
00:14:19,889 --> 00:14:23,639
why it should be something that is
403
00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:25,980
joyful because it's a way that we can
404
00:14:23,639 --> 00:14:27,899
honor and bless him I mean to think that
405
00:14:25,980 --> 00:14:30,329
I could do something that would actually
406
00:14:27,899 --> 00:14:32,490
bless his holy name to think that I
407
00:14:30,329 --> 00:14:34,889
could do something that would actually
408
00:14:32,490 --> 00:14:36,810
bring him some glory one of the ways
409
00:14:34,889 --> 00:14:39,000
that we do that there are other ways
410
00:14:36,810 --> 00:14:40,829
that we worship God we worship Him with
411
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,689
our singing we worship Him with our
412
00:14:40,829 --> 00:14:45,180
prayer we worship Him with the lifestyle
413
00:14:42,689 --> 00:14:47,910
that we live but make no mistake another
414
00:14:45,180 --> 00:14:50,519
element of it is actually this this is
415
00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:53,069
why Zacchaeus when he first got saved
416
00:14:50,519 --> 00:14:54,870
and he gave his life to Christ and then
417
00:14:53,069 --> 00:14:56,730
he said this is what I'm gonna do I'm
418
00:14:54,870 --> 00:14:58,649
gonna give away half of what I earn and
419
00:14:56,730 --> 00:15:00,389
anyone live wrong I'm gonna pay him back
420
00:14:58,649 --> 00:15:03,740
four times and you know what Jesus said
421
00:15:00,389 --> 00:15:06,120
now I know salvations come to this house
422
00:15:03,740 --> 00:15:09,029
now he's actually living the Christian
423
00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:12,060
life because part of the Christian life
424
00:15:09,029 --> 00:15:15,120
is actually generosity and it's a way
425
00:15:12,060 --> 00:15:17,519
that we can bless and honor our Lord the
426
00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:19,439
Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 9 verse 7
427
00:15:17,519 --> 00:15:21,899
says so let each one give as he purposes
428
00:15:19,439 --> 00:15:26,540
in his heart not grudgingly or of
429
00:15:21,899 --> 00:15:29,540
necessity for God loves a cheerful
430
00:15:26,540 --> 00:15:29,540
person
431
00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:39,140
don't say that God loves a cheerful
432
00:15:34,630 --> 00:15:41,720
Giver so it's the attitude and it's the
433
00:15:39,140 --> 00:15:44,300
act he actually wants both give me
434
00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:46,070
offerings in righteousness he says he
435
00:15:44,300 --> 00:15:48,950
says then that will be pleasing to me
436
00:15:46,070 --> 00:15:50,930
and so it's not just the attitude it's
437
00:15:48,950 --> 00:15:53,420
actually the actors well he actually
438
00:15:50,930 --> 00:15:55,820
loves it and the beauty of it is this he
439
00:15:53,420 --> 00:15:56,480
doesn't ask us to give what we can't
440
00:15:55,820 --> 00:15:58,279
afford
441
00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,720
he only and he doesn't ask us to
442
00:15:58,279 --> 00:16:02,029
percentage-wise give any more than
443
00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:04,910
anyone else he wants us to all have the
444
00:16:02,029 --> 00:16:07,160
opportunity to participate in actually
445
00:16:04,910 --> 00:16:10,250
worshiping him in this way it actually
446
00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:12,680
pleases God I told you the story last
447
00:16:10,250 --> 00:16:15,200
year about when Jesus was actually in
448
00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,279
the temple and he was looking at people
449
00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:20,120
bringing their offerings
450
00:16:16,279 --> 00:16:21,770
I mean how rude not even you know just
451
00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,480
put her on a card and slipping it in or
452
00:16:21,770 --> 00:16:25,580
anything while Jesus was like he was
453
00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:28,279
standing right there and people were
454
00:16:25,580 --> 00:16:31,520
coming up and they were giving their
455
00:16:28,279 --> 00:16:33,560
offerings and he's looking at it did you
456
00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,940
imagine if we were here and you know
457
00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:37,760
we're passing the offering bucket pass
458
00:16:34,940 --> 00:16:40,000
and pastor Robb gierlach walks along no
459
00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:44,180
no you need to put in a bit more I mean
460
00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:47,270
he'll Rudy's cheese's like seriously and
461
00:16:44,180 --> 00:16:50,000
he said and then a lady comes and all
462
00:16:47,270 --> 00:16:51,650
she gives us a couple of coins and other
463
00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:55,970
people have been given so much more than
464
00:16:51,650 --> 00:16:57,920
her and at that Jesus rejoices and he
465
00:16:55,970 --> 00:17:00,709
calls his he calls he some disciples of
466
00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:05,150
his his boys get over here he says this
467
00:17:00,709 --> 00:17:07,220
lady she gave all that she had everyone
468
00:17:05,150 --> 00:17:08,720
else gave out of their abundance and he
469
00:17:07,220 --> 00:17:11,089
was rejoicing over it why he was
470
00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:14,209
celebrating actually at her generosity
471
00:17:11,089 --> 00:17:15,860
it blessed him and then the interesting
472
00:17:14,209 --> 00:17:18,020
thing for me is and I mention this to
473
00:17:15,860 --> 00:17:23,120
you last year he didn't give her the
474
00:17:18,020 --> 00:17:26,750
money back he knew it was all that she
475
00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:29,660
had could you imagine that
476
00:17:26,750 --> 00:17:32,600
on the front of the bulletin pass that
477
00:17:29,660 --> 00:17:36,110
takes widows last two coins
478
00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:38,929
how will that go down and here's Jesus
479
00:17:36,110 --> 00:17:41,929
and hexie says awesome we caused the
480
00:17:38,929 --> 00:17:43,220
boys over boys this is amazing imagine
481
00:17:41,929 --> 00:17:45,889
Judas saying Lord that you think we
482
00:17:43,220 --> 00:17:50,720
should give it back and he says no and
483
00:17:45,889 --> 00:17:54,500
he lets her go so she gives everything
484
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:58,580
she's got he's rejoicing and then he
485
00:17:54,500 --> 00:18:02,600
lets her go so that means he was wanting
486
00:17:58,580 --> 00:18:12,110
so one option is this Jesus let her go
487
00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:14,169
and knew she was going to die amen or he
488
00:18:12,110 --> 00:18:18,919
knew that even though she had given that
489
00:18:14,169 --> 00:18:21,710
God will still take care of her amen
490
00:18:18,919 --> 00:18:24,850
I've got a feeling it's probably the
491
00:18:21,710 --> 00:18:28,090
second part does that make sense
492
00:18:24,850 --> 00:18:31,519
when we gift him it's an act of worship
493
00:18:28,090 --> 00:18:35,450
when we give to him it's a blessing the
494
00:18:31,519 --> 00:18:37,519
Bible says in Psalm 116 12 to 14 what
495
00:18:35,450 --> 00:18:38,870
should i render to the Lord for all his
496
00:18:37,519 --> 00:18:40,639
benefits towards me what could I
497
00:18:38,870 --> 00:18:41,539
possibly give him what could I do for
498
00:18:40,639 --> 00:18:43,940
him
499
00:18:41,539 --> 00:18:45,500
after all that he's done for me well the
500
00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:48,080
awesome thing it actually tells us next
501
00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:51,500
I will take up the cup of salvation get
502
00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:54,590
saved and call upon the name of the Lord
503
00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:55,509
praise Him and pray I will pay my vows
504
00:18:54,590 --> 00:18:58,009
to the Lord
505
00:18:55,509 --> 00:19:01,039
talking about generosity now in the
506
00:18:58,009 --> 00:19:02,480
presence of his people go to church it's
507
00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:03,049
a pretty simple Christian life you know
508
00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,570
what I'm saying
509
00:19:03,049 --> 00:19:07,129
that's all he requires of us that we
510
00:19:05,570 --> 00:19:09,259
would be people who would give our lives
511
00:19:07,129 --> 00:19:11,659
to him that we will be people willing to
512
00:19:09,259 --> 00:19:13,309
praise people who would be generous and
513
00:19:11,659 --> 00:19:15,590
people who are still part of the
514
00:19:13,309 --> 00:19:17,299
community of faith amen that's all he's
515
00:19:15,590 --> 00:19:20,019
really requiring for them from us in
516
00:19:17,299 --> 00:19:23,539
return when we give we are actually
517
00:19:20,019 --> 00:19:27,500
blessing our Lord and Savior the second
518
00:19:23,539 --> 00:19:31,820
thing that it says is this and verses in
519
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:34,129
verse verse 8 says will a man Rob God
520
00:19:31,820 --> 00:19:36,409
yet you've robbed me but you say and
521
00:19:34,129 --> 00:19:39,139
what way we robbed you in tithes and
522
00:19:36,409 --> 00:19:41,960
offerings the second consequence of
523
00:19:39,139 --> 00:19:45,430
giving the second outcome of giving is
524
00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:48,850
trust and what that means is that we
525
00:19:45,430 --> 00:19:50,320
actually build trust with the Lord the
526
00:19:48,850 --> 00:19:52,450
Bible doesn't tell us that God
527
00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,850
automatically trusts us in fact there's
528
00:19:52,450 --> 00:19:57,070
times when he withholds from us because
529
00:19:54,850 --> 00:19:59,770
we can't actually be trusted but one of
530
00:19:57,070 --> 00:20:01,750
the ways he actually we build trust with
531
00:19:59,770 --> 00:20:04,780
the Lord is in the way that we actually
532
00:20:01,750 --> 00:20:07,570
handle our finances the Bible says in
533
00:20:04,780 --> 00:20:10,000
Luke 16 verses 10 to 11 he is faithful
534
00:20:07,570 --> 00:20:12,670
and what is is what his least is also
535
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,350
faithful in much he was unjust in what
536
00:20:12,670 --> 00:20:16,180
is least is also unjust in much
537
00:20:14,350 --> 00:20:19,120
therefore if you have not been faithful
538
00:20:16,180 --> 00:20:21,550
in unrighteous mammon who will commit to
539
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:23,380
your trust the true riches in other
540
00:20:21,550 --> 00:20:25,390
translations of the Bible that says this
541
00:20:23,380 --> 00:20:27,580
if we haven't been faithful and handling
542
00:20:25,390 --> 00:20:30,190
worldly wealth who then can trust us
543
00:20:27,580 --> 00:20:31,960
with spiritual riches one of the things
544
00:20:30,190 --> 00:20:34,180
I noticed when I ran a Bible College
545
00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,620
because very often it was new Christians
546
00:20:34,180 --> 00:20:37,210
that were coming to the Bible College
547
00:20:35,620 --> 00:20:39,400
that encountered God and they were
548
00:20:37,210 --> 00:20:41,110
passionate for the things of God but
549
00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,480
then often God would start challenging
550
00:20:41,110 --> 00:20:45,070
them on areas of their life and one of
551
00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,510
the areas that God would change them and
552
00:20:45,070 --> 00:20:47,950
this would be independent this wasn't
553
00:20:46,510 --> 00:20:50,110
something that we would push at the
554
00:20:47,950 --> 00:20:51,250
Bible College or anything like that but
555
00:20:50,110 --> 00:20:52,960
one of the areas that they were
556
00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:56,260
challenged on is their use of their
557
00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:59,020
finances and especially in the way and
558
00:20:56,260 --> 00:21:00,670
when it came to giving and that would
559
00:20:59,020 --> 00:21:02,560
often be in a bit of a dilemma they
560
00:21:00,670 --> 00:21:04,810
would say well what does that got to do
561
00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,340
with this you know what is my handling
562
00:21:04,810 --> 00:21:08,980
of my finances have got to do with the
563
00:21:06,340 --> 00:21:10,450
fact that I want to see revival in the
564
00:21:08,980 --> 00:21:13,510
things that you know in what God has for
565
00:21:10,450 --> 00:21:14,920
me but that's how God uses that's how
566
00:21:13,510 --> 00:21:17,320
I've got one of the ways that we can
567
00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:20,110
build trust with him the way we handle
568
00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:22,300
our finance will determine how much more
569
00:21:20,110 --> 00:21:24,820
of spiritual riches which are much more
570
00:21:22,300 --> 00:21:27,160
important which are much more value that
571
00:21:24,820 --> 00:21:29,530
he can actually release to us one of the
572
00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:31,180
things I observed we ran a conference in
573
00:21:29,530 --> 00:21:33,610
North Queensland it was called extreme
574
00:21:31,180 --> 00:21:35,080
youth conference and and I remember the
575
00:21:33,610 --> 00:21:37,780
first year that we ran it we had about
576
00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:40,510
80 kids come to it which was great and
577
00:21:37,780 --> 00:21:43,420
and I end on the first night I received
578
00:21:40,510 --> 00:21:44,920
an offering for the conference and we
579
00:21:43,420 --> 00:21:47,710
received three hundred and sixty dollars
580
00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,640
and I was so excited because I just
581
00:21:47,710 --> 00:21:51,880
thought this is great
582
00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:53,440
you know we only need another 900
583
00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,270
dollars to actually break even and not
584
00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,280
pay for the rest of my credit card and
585
00:21:55,270 --> 00:21:57,920
so I was feeling good about it and the
586
00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,110
next
587
00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:06,740
our guest speaker received the offering
588
00:22:00,110 --> 00:22:08,960
and we receive $9,000 amen and it was
589
00:22:06,740 --> 00:22:10,130
absolutely incredible and there's and
590
00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,600
and you know kids were getting
591
00:22:10,130 --> 00:22:13,070
permission off their parents are feeling
592
00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,080
in their heart they wanted to be
593
00:22:13,070 --> 00:22:17,030
generous from that moment on I ran Youth
594
00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:19,130
alive for North Queensland every youth
595
00:22:17,030 --> 00:22:21,650
alive event we put on every outreach was
596
00:22:19,130 --> 00:22:23,540
completely free we would fund it and and
597
00:22:21,650 --> 00:22:24,860
that sort of thing it was incredible but
598
00:22:23,540 --> 00:22:26,570
one of the other things I noticed
599
00:22:24,860 --> 00:22:29,270
happening was that the youth ministries
600
00:22:26,570 --> 00:22:30,620
in our city started expanding I know my
601
00:22:29,270 --> 00:22:31,790
youth ministry which had been going
602
00:22:30,620 --> 00:22:34,250
around in circles for a couple years
603
00:22:31,790 --> 00:22:37,850
from that moment started enlarging and
604
00:22:34,250 --> 00:22:39,500
increasing I also noticed that that
605
00:22:37,850 --> 00:22:41,150
there were churches in our city who
606
00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:43,040
didn't even attend that conference that
607
00:22:41,150 --> 00:22:44,660
all of a sudden they started having
608
00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,520
youth ministries and now the youth
609
00:22:44,660 --> 00:22:48,890
ministry started growing what had
610
00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:52,100
happened God started giving us more of
611
00:22:48,890 --> 00:22:54,200
the city after we the young people
612
00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,150
proved faithful when it came to
613
00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,580
generosity there's actually a
614
00:22:56,150 --> 00:23:00,470
correlation that's why the Bible says in
615
00:22:58,580 --> 00:23:02,450
Malachi and it sounds pretty heavy but
616
00:23:00,470 --> 00:23:05,300
that's why I'm Malachi chapter 3 verse 8
617
00:23:02,450 --> 00:23:08,720
God uses the word Rob before when we
618
00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:10,550
withhold from him because what a man Rob
619
00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:13,460
God yet you've robbed me that's what he
620
00:23:10,550 --> 00:23:15,790
says use word Rob and so that indicates
621
00:23:13,460 --> 00:23:17,900
then that it actually belongs to him
622
00:23:15,790 --> 00:23:20,870
then it's actually when we it's not
623
00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:23,300
actually mine I was talking to a guy one
624
00:23:20,870 --> 00:23:25,430
time and many years ago he goes I hate
625
00:23:23,300 --> 00:23:26,780
it at the church when they take up the
626
00:23:25,430 --> 00:23:29,690
offering they all they want to do is get
627
00:23:26,780 --> 00:23:31,250
my money and actually you know that's
628
00:23:29,690 --> 00:23:32,840
not completely true because the Bible
629
00:23:31,250 --> 00:23:35,210
says a part of it actually belongs to
630
00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:37,430
the Lord and he actually gives us the
631
00:23:35,210 --> 00:23:40,610
opportunity to actually pour it back
632
00:23:37,430 --> 00:23:42,200
into him and he uses the word Rob which
633
00:23:40,610 --> 00:23:45,830
is a strong word I would have preferred
634
00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:47,810
if he had to use the word still you know
635
00:23:45,830 --> 00:23:49,670
cuz stealing or thieving means that
636
00:23:47,810 --> 00:23:52,100
someone takes something from me when I'm
637
00:23:49,670 --> 00:23:54,500
not actually looking I would actually
638
00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:57,280
prefer that but he doesn't use the word
639
00:23:54,500 --> 00:24:00,170
still he actually uses the word rob
640
00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:02,000
that's like going to a bank or going to
641
00:24:00,170 --> 00:24:04,070
a petrol station and confronting them
642
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,870
and forcibly taking it off him that's
643
00:24:04,070 --> 00:24:08,030
what he's actually saying there it
644
00:24:05,870 --> 00:24:11,600
belongs to him and so when we prove
645
00:24:08,030 --> 00:24:13,850
faithful to him there's a level of trust
646
00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:16,490
that actually comes back that is just
647
00:24:13,850 --> 00:24:18,320
absolutely incredible and it's more than
648
00:24:16,490 --> 00:24:21,110
a natural thing it's actually a
649
00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:23,450
spiritual thing but this also goes to
650
00:24:21,110 --> 00:24:26,330
not just in terms of generosity but
651
00:24:23,450 --> 00:24:28,730
actually how we handle our finances as
652
00:24:26,330 --> 00:24:30,350
well when we first came here one of the
653
00:24:28,730 --> 00:24:32,540
things that I felt we needed to do as
654
00:24:30,350 --> 00:24:34,760
you know we needed to handle our
655
00:24:32,540 --> 00:24:37,100
finances better in fact that scripture
656
00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:39,440
Luke 16 10 or 11 was the one that God
657
00:24:37,100 --> 00:24:40,910
kept speaking to me about because if
658
00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,340
you're faithful in handling worldly
659
00:24:40,910 --> 00:24:45,590
wealth and I realized there were some
660
00:24:43,340 --> 00:24:47,840
things we needed to adjust and that's
661
00:24:45,590 --> 00:24:49,520
why last year I didn't want to come to
662
00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:51,200
the people and and and come to the
663
00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,980
people for money because I felt that was
664
00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,930
not the issue
665
00:24:51,980 --> 00:24:55,670
I felt the issue was that we needed to
666
00:24:53,930 --> 00:24:57,350
handle it better and one of the things
667
00:24:55,670 --> 00:24:59,840
I've noticed is that as we've done that
668
00:24:57,350 --> 00:25:02,690
things have been popping out and God is
669
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:06,080
doing God is doing great things but part
670
00:25:02,690 --> 00:25:09,020
of the way we use our money is also in
671
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:12,050
the realm of giving and so when we give
672
00:25:09,020 --> 00:25:14,240
it actually increases the trust between
673
00:25:12,050 --> 00:25:16,280
us and the Lord if we're faithful a
674
00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:18,170
little be faithful and much there was
675
00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,860
actually a parable that was actually in
676
00:25:18,170 --> 00:25:22,970
Luke chapter 16 and it talks about a man
677
00:25:20,860 --> 00:25:24,680
servants who were giving a number of
678
00:25:22,970 --> 00:25:27,680
talents and talents was actually
679
00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:29,690
financed and it's a parable and that and
680
00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:32,390
and the and them and the servants that
681
00:25:29,690 --> 00:25:34,850
actually multiplied the talents God says
682
00:25:32,390 --> 00:25:36,800
God says to them you've been faithful
683
00:25:34,850 --> 00:25:38,780
that all you'll be faithful in much he
684
00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,790
goes on now he said to the man who gave
685
00:25:38,780 --> 00:25:43,610
him ten coins he says now I'm going to
686
00:25:40,790 --> 00:25:46,790
give you ten cities what had happened
687
00:25:43,610 --> 00:25:49,280
because he was faithful in that God then
688
00:25:46,790 --> 00:25:52,190
actually gave him more to overlook in
689
00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:55,130
her and to oversee our giving and the
690
00:25:52,190 --> 00:25:58,280
way we handle our finances is a way that
691
00:25:55,130 --> 00:26:00,500
we actually build trust with the Lord
692
00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,970
and I'm not just talking about giving on
693
00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:03,830
that as well I'm talking about the
694
00:26:01,970 --> 00:26:06,170
overall handling of our personal
695
00:26:03,830 --> 00:26:09,800
stewardship of everything that God gives
696
00:26:06,170 --> 00:26:13,160
us the third thing the third benefit and
697
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:15,710
blessing of giving is it can bring
698
00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,910
resources into the house our God says
699
00:26:15,710 --> 00:26:19,730
bring all of the tithes into the
700
00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:22,700
storehouse that there may be food in my
701
00:26:19,730 --> 00:26:25,250
house and so it says and so God is
702
00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,730
saying that there may be food in my
703
00:26:25,250 --> 00:26:27,679
house
704
00:26:25,730 --> 00:26:30,590
what is he saying he's saying that my
705
00:26:27,679 --> 00:26:33,230
house can be adequately resourced to be
706
00:26:30,590 --> 00:26:36,200
able to do all that it's actually being
707
00:26:33,230 --> 00:26:38,690
called to do now this is not just a
708
00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:42,470
physical natural thing I believe this is
709
00:26:38,690 --> 00:26:44,659
also a spiritual thing because as we as
710
00:26:42,470 --> 00:26:46,730
we actually prove faithful in the
711
00:26:44,659 --> 00:26:49,370
handling of our finance then I believe
712
00:26:46,730 --> 00:26:51,289
God spiritually gives us more there are
713
00:26:49,370 --> 00:26:54,139
a number of denominations that are
714
00:26:51,289 --> 00:26:56,630
absolutely loaded and rolling with money
715
00:26:54,139 --> 00:26:58,190
because of all their investments and so
716
00:26:56,630 --> 00:27:00,380
they don't really talk to their people
717
00:26:58,190 --> 00:27:02,059
about giving and that sort of thing but
718
00:27:00,380 --> 00:27:04,519
they're actually loaded with money but
719
00:27:02,059 --> 00:27:06,380
often those denominations even though
720
00:27:04,519 --> 00:27:08,480
they're financially wealthy and have a
721
00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:10,429
lot of problem our property are actually
722
00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:13,220
in attendance and in seeing soul saved
723
00:27:10,429 --> 00:27:15,289
are actually declining and because it's
724
00:27:13,220 --> 00:27:17,450
more than just the fact of having money
725
00:27:15,289 --> 00:27:19,330
it's actually the fact about the trust
726
00:27:17,450 --> 00:27:22,220
built and the more that God will release
727
00:27:19,330 --> 00:27:24,740
back into the life of the local church
728
00:27:22,220 --> 00:27:26,659
but make no mistake there is a practical
729
00:27:24,740 --> 00:27:28,850
element to it as well
730
00:27:26,659 --> 00:27:31,130
I know number of years ago and when I
731
00:27:28,850 --> 00:27:32,750
was working in McCoy and I don't know if
732
00:27:31,130 --> 00:27:35,990
he'll be happy to for me to say this but
733
00:27:32,750 --> 00:27:37,760
it's ok zin McCoy and I'm and my senior
734
00:27:35,990 --> 00:27:39,860
pastor said to me one day he goes Ben
735
00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:41,480
because the church was really generous
736
00:27:39,860 --> 00:27:43,970
and that sort of thing he goes Ben I've
737
00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:45,200
got so much we've got so much money in
738
00:27:43,970 --> 00:27:48,409
the church or don't know what to do with
739
00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:51,649
it now I've been in church for 20 years
740
00:27:48,409 --> 00:27:54,610
I visit a lot of churches I've never met
741
00:27:51,649 --> 00:27:57,950
a pastor that's actually ever said that
742
00:27:54,610 --> 00:27:59,090
and he said and he goes and I say he
743
00:27:57,950 --> 00:28:01,580
goes what do you want to spend it on
744
00:27:59,090 --> 00:28:03,260
well I said wow ok
745
00:28:01,580 --> 00:28:06,260
I'm glad briefs ecology wasn't his youth
746
00:28:03,260 --> 00:28:09,740
pastor actually because he's got big big
747
00:28:06,260 --> 00:28:11,600
asking and and so I was and I said to my
748
00:28:09,740 --> 00:28:13,130
said I said he coming so he put on for
749
00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:15,470
us in high school outreach going and
750
00:28:13,130 --> 00:28:16,970
some help in the admin department of
751
00:28:15,470 --> 00:28:18,529
their youth and that sort of thing from
752
00:28:16,970 --> 00:28:20,659
that moment on a youth ministry just
753
00:28:18,529 --> 00:28:22,130
started expanding we used to do all we
754
00:28:20,659 --> 00:28:23,690
used to do lunchtime programmes
755
00:28:22,130 --> 00:28:25,820
everywhere was about twelve thousand
756
00:28:23,690 --> 00:28:26,929
dollars a week we paid for no no I was
757
00:28:25,820 --> 00:28:29,360
more there was twenty thousand dollars
758
00:28:26,929 --> 00:28:31,519
that we paid for to do programs
759
00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:33,289
throughout the schools and all and you
760
00:28:31,519 --> 00:28:35,450
know that we didn't ask the youth to do
761
00:28:33,289 --> 00:28:37,789
and we did it and we just started
762
00:28:35,450 --> 00:28:39,290
increase in scenes Souls saved a youth
763
00:28:37,789 --> 00:28:40,820
ministry doubled and all
764
00:28:39,290 --> 00:28:43,400
these things started happening as a
765
00:28:40,820 --> 00:28:46,400
result and as an ability of actually
766
00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:48,380
being adequately resourced so often the
767
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:51,020
tightening of that or the misuse of that
768
00:28:48,380 --> 00:28:52,760
can actually stop a church and the
769
00:28:51,020 --> 00:28:54,470
kingdom of God from actually advancing
770
00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:57,730
it's no different from any other
771
00:28:54,470 --> 00:29:00,440
Enterprise except we have a spiritual
772
00:28:57,730 --> 00:29:02,690
opposition against us that is why is
773
00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:05,390
both a spiritual and natural component
774
00:29:02,690 --> 00:29:07,640
tied to this which we will see even more
775
00:29:05,390 --> 00:29:09,140
over the next couple of weeks but one of
776
00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:12,500
the things that happens is it actually
777
00:29:09,140 --> 00:29:14,180
brings and releases more resource into
778
00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:15,560
the church the fourth thing that
779
00:29:14,180 --> 00:29:16,940
actually happens is this the fourth
780
00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,850
blessing and consequence of giving
781
00:29:16,940 --> 00:29:21,290
Malachi 3:10 says bring all the tithes
782
00:29:19,850 --> 00:29:24,280
into the storehouse that there may be
783
00:29:21,290 --> 00:29:27,440
food in my house try me now in this says
784
00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:28,670
the Lord of hosts a lot pour open for
785
00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,350
you the windows of heaven and pour out
786
00:29:28,670 --> 00:29:32,390
for you such blessing but there will not
787
00:29:30,350 --> 00:29:34,400
be enough room to receive it he says try
788
00:29:32,390 --> 00:29:37,850
me now on this other translations of the
789
00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:41,510
Bible say test me in this so God is
790
00:29:37,850 --> 00:29:44,390
saying to the people test me which is
791
00:29:41,510 --> 00:29:46,550
theologically interesting because in
792
00:29:44,390 --> 00:29:49,370
Luke chapter 4 when it talks about Jesus
793
00:29:46,550 --> 00:29:51,920
being tempted by the devil and the devil
794
00:29:49,370 --> 00:29:53,150
said to Jesus get up onto that you know
795
00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,040
get up onto that building and throw
796
00:29:53,150 --> 00:29:57,200
yourself off and God will rescue you and
797
00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:58,400
he says the scripture says don't put the
798
00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:01,400
Lord your God to the test
799
00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:04,250
so it's interesting in most things we're
800
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:05,900
not supposed to put the Lord our God to
801
00:30:04,250 --> 00:30:07,190
the test we're not supposed to get on
802
00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:09,170
the building and jump and say God if
803
00:30:07,190 --> 00:30:11,420
you're real you got to have to catch me
804
00:30:09,170 --> 00:30:15,160
we're not supposed to do that however
805
00:30:11,420 --> 00:30:17,960
God says we can test him in this area
806
00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:20,330
this is the one area were actually
807
00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:22,160
allowed to test him and it's actually in
808
00:30:20,330 --> 00:30:25,070
the realm of our giving
809
00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:26,840
he says test me in this and then see if
810
00:30:25,070 --> 00:30:29,360
I don't open the windows of heaven and
811
00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:32,240
pour out such blessing that there won't
812
00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:34,100
be enough room to receive it test me in
813
00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:36,140
this one of the things I found is this
814
00:30:34,100 --> 00:30:37,220
that when people test him in this area
815
00:30:36,140 --> 00:30:39,140
if it's something that they've never
816
00:30:37,220 --> 00:30:41,420
done before if it's something that
817
00:30:39,140 --> 00:30:44,060
they've never expressed their faith in
818
00:30:41,420 --> 00:30:46,070
before I have found so many times where
819
00:30:44,060 --> 00:30:49,040
people's faith has been enlarged and
820
00:30:46,070 --> 00:30:50,990
expanded when it comes to testing God in
821
00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,760
the realm of their finances they're
822
00:30:50,990 --> 00:30:54,560
literally our finances of the
823
00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:56,660
of life it's the thing that actually
824
00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:58,130
helps us every single one of us every
825
00:30:56,660 --> 00:31:00,380
family it's the thing that actually
826
00:30:58,130 --> 00:31:02,450
helps us to do the things that we want
827
00:31:00,380 --> 00:31:04,610
to do so when we trust God in that area
828
00:31:02,450 --> 00:31:08,210
in some ways we're actually trusting God
829
00:31:04,610 --> 00:31:10,430
with our life and when we see God come
830
00:31:08,210 --> 00:31:12,890
through for us as so many of us have
831
00:31:10,430 --> 00:31:15,710
it's incredible to see the faith that is
832
00:31:12,890 --> 00:31:18,320
lifted in someone's life I told you last
833
00:31:15,710 --> 00:31:20,660
year of the story about how we had a
834
00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:23,210
conference in Mackay and there was a and
835
00:31:20,660 --> 00:31:24,410
there was a lady who actually I'm sorry
836
00:31:23,210 --> 00:31:27,200
there was a guy in the conference who
837
00:31:24,410 --> 00:31:28,490
felt that night that he should bring an
838
00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:30,140
offering and we're receiving a
839
00:31:28,490 --> 00:31:31,880
breakthrough offering so just like the
840
00:31:30,140 --> 00:31:33,380
breakthrough offering we do in June we
841
00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:35,540
were doing we would do one on the last
842
00:31:33,380 --> 00:31:38,060
night of our conference in my car and he
843
00:31:35,540 --> 00:31:39,800
felt God tell him that he had to give 50
844
00:31:38,060 --> 00:31:41,360
bucks in the offering and he thought to
845
00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,280
himself me and my wife's not going to be
846
00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:45,110
happy with this you know that's a third
847
00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,910
of our grocery bill our finances are
848
00:31:45,110 --> 00:31:48,860
really tight and he thought I kind of
849
00:31:46,910 --> 00:31:51,140
better go talk to her so went home and
850
00:31:48,860 --> 00:31:52,520
he spoke to his wife and he said babe I
851
00:31:51,140 --> 00:31:53,540
just felt really challenged that we've
852
00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:56,030
got to give him the breakthrough
853
00:31:53,540 --> 00:31:57,770
offering tonight she goes why he goes I
854
00:31:56,030 --> 00:31:59,150
just felt good saying that we got to do
855
00:31:57,770 --> 00:32:01,640
it she goes well you know how much you
856
00:31:59,150 --> 00:32:03,890
want to give and he goes fifty dot 50
857
00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:05,570
bucks you guys 50 bucks she goes that's
858
00:32:03,890 --> 00:32:07,730
all now you know that's a third of our
859
00:32:05,570 --> 00:32:09,290
shopping money for the week you know
860
00:32:07,730 --> 00:32:10,790
what they be responsible they don't even
861
00:32:09,290 --> 00:32:12,050
need the money at the conference why
862
00:32:10,790 --> 00:32:13,760
would you even bother doing he said I
863
00:32:12,050 --> 00:32:15,920
just felt God tell me that I'm supposed
864
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:18,290
to do it and she was so angry she
865
00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:20,660
actually went out for a prayer walk and
866
00:32:18,290 --> 00:32:21,980
so and so I must admit sometimes when I
867
00:32:20,660 --> 00:32:24,110
see some of you doing prayer walks
868
00:32:21,980 --> 00:32:28,910
around the observatory Kingsmore I do
869
00:32:24,110 --> 00:32:30,380
wonder if you had a fight at home but it
870
00:32:28,910 --> 00:32:31,700
say she went out and she's saying Lord
871
00:32:30,380 --> 00:32:33,530
you know it's not right he's been
872
00:32:31,700 --> 00:32:34,910
irresponsible you know why he shouldn't
873
00:32:33,530 --> 00:32:36,830
be giving our money away you know we
874
00:32:34,910 --> 00:32:38,720
worked hard for this and she just felt
875
00:32:36,830 --> 00:32:40,490
the Holy Spirit say to her this is her
876
00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:42,310
words I cannot mine she got the Holy
877
00:32:40,490 --> 00:32:48,350
Spirit say to her submit to your husband
878
00:32:42,310 --> 00:32:51,350
and she's long so she goes home she says
879
00:32:48,350 --> 00:32:54,320
to her husband okay you can do it but
880
00:32:51,350 --> 00:32:57,260
I'm not happy about it and she goes and
881
00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:59,750
he goes thanks honey and so that night
882
00:32:57,260 --> 00:33:02,060
he took 50 bucks and he went there and
883
00:32:59,750 --> 00:33:03,380
put it in the offering at the end of the
884
00:33:02,060 --> 00:33:04,670
service there was another couple that
885
00:33:03,380 --> 00:33:06,590
they'd never met before
886
00:33:04,670 --> 00:33:09,080
that actually came up to them after
887
00:33:06,590 --> 00:33:10,820
and say and I had seen them across the
888
00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,200
room at the conference earlier and they
889
00:33:10,820 --> 00:33:14,389
felt God say to him I wanted you to give
890
00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:16,700
that couple some money and the amount
891
00:33:14,389 --> 00:33:19,789
that they would they gave them was 500
892
00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:21,139
bucks cash and so they and then I found
893
00:33:19,789 --> 00:33:23,240
this is this is just one of the unusual
894
00:33:21,139 --> 00:33:25,850
ones where I know the whole trial that
895
00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:27,769
couple that $500 they gave was actually
896
00:33:25,850 --> 00:33:28,909
the money that they needed for their
897
00:33:27,769 --> 00:33:31,249
spending money they'll go into Hamilton
898
00:33:28,909 --> 00:33:33,169
Island the next day and that was their
899
00:33:31,249 --> 00:33:36,470
spending money but the person who took
900
00:33:33,169 --> 00:33:38,120
them to shoot harbour to go to catch the
901
00:33:36,470 --> 00:33:40,399
ferry over to Hamilton Island actually
902
00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:43,100
gave them on the way over there without
903
00:33:40,399 --> 00:33:46,340
and it wasn't pretty organized gave him
904
00:33:43,100 --> 00:33:48,830
five thousand bucks which was just which
905
00:33:46,340 --> 00:33:50,539
was just awesome but then it's late lady
906
00:33:48,830 --> 00:33:52,669
got the five hundred dollars that she
907
00:33:50,539 --> 00:33:54,350
just could not believe it so she came
908
00:33:52,669 --> 00:33:55,639
out to me and told me about it I said
909
00:33:54,350 --> 00:33:57,080
listen do you want to risk would you
910
00:33:55,639 --> 00:33:58,220
like to share a testimony at church
911
00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:00,619
tomorrow around the offering
912
00:33:58,220 --> 00:34:02,330
she has no worries so she gets up and I
913
00:34:00,619 --> 00:34:04,220
said hey we got you know lands gonna
914
00:34:02,330 --> 00:34:05,990
give a testimony today about something
915
00:34:04,220 --> 00:34:07,639
that happened on the weekend she gets up
916
00:34:05,990 --> 00:34:09,649
she goes you know my husband came home
917
00:34:07,639 --> 00:34:10,879
he wanted to give 50 bucks I didn't want
918
00:34:09,649 --> 00:34:12,169
to give him 50 bucks so I thought he was
919
00:34:10,879 --> 00:34:13,639
irresponsible someone went and prayed
920
00:34:12,169 --> 00:34:15,109
and God Tommy he's got to give 250 back
921
00:34:13,639 --> 00:34:16,700
so I said we gave her 50 bucks but I'm
922
00:34:15,109 --> 00:34:17,990
not happy about it and he gave the 50
923
00:34:16,700 --> 00:34:22,339
bucks and then after the Soviet someone
924
00:34:17,990 --> 00:34:23,750
gave us 500 bucks and there was like and
925
00:34:22,339 --> 00:34:29,780
actually did I was going to grab the mic
926
00:34:23,750 --> 00:34:35,560
off her and then she goes and now I know
927
00:34:29,780 --> 00:34:35,560
I can do anything God wants me to do
928
00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:46,510
amen what happened her faith when she
929
00:34:42,919 --> 00:34:49,369
tested God in the realm of her finance
930
00:34:46,510 --> 00:34:51,169
maybe there's someone here I sometimes
931
00:34:49,369 --> 00:34:52,159
fought I'm kind of fighting myself a
932
00:34:51,169 --> 00:34:53,089
little bit I thought these people I
933
00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:55,069
don't think these people need to hear
934
00:34:53,089 --> 00:34:57,530
this and some of you look at me like
935
00:34:55,069 --> 00:35:01,280
yeah I know yeah yeah I don't know who
936
00:34:57,530 --> 00:35:04,400
it is but I just felt there are some
937
00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:07,280
people here to get to the faith level
938
00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:10,790
you need for what God's got for you to
939
00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:13,490
do he's been challenging you on this
940
00:35:10,790 --> 00:35:15,470
topic and he's just sent me today to
941
00:35:13,490 --> 00:35:18,560
stand up in front of you to confirm it
942
00:35:15,470 --> 00:35:20,180
that when we give to the Lord and we
943
00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:22,670
prove faithful in that
944
00:35:20,180 --> 00:35:24,829
it's amazing how it actually lifts our
945
00:35:22,670 --> 00:35:26,779
faith and prepares us for what he has
946
00:35:24,829 --> 00:35:31,130
and takes us to a new level
947
00:35:26,779 --> 00:35:33,589
amen it is more blessed to give than it
948
00:35:31,130 --> 00:35:35,750
is to receive the world says you're
949
00:35:33,589 --> 00:35:38,000
worse off the world says you're
950
00:35:35,750 --> 00:35:40,369
discarding but I'm here to let you know
951
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,480
in the words of Jim I mean the Apostle
952
00:35:40,369 --> 00:35:45,619
Paul must have been trying to convince
953
00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:48,529
him he said in the words of Jesus it's
954
00:35:45,619 --> 00:35:51,559
more blessed to give than it is to
955
00:35:48,529 --> 00:35:54,319
receive Amen and my prayer is that
956
00:35:51,559 --> 00:35:55,549
everyone in our church and blessing is
957
00:35:54,319 --> 00:35:56,930
you know we're not talking about
958
00:35:55,549 --> 00:35:58,819
everybody driving around in Lamborghinis
959
00:35:56,930 --> 00:36:00,529
although some might praise God and we're
960
00:35:58,819 --> 00:36:01,819
not talking about everyone having 25
961
00:36:00,529 --> 00:36:03,529
properties worth like that that's not
962
00:36:01,819 --> 00:36:05,720
what we're saying we're just praying
963
00:36:03,529 --> 00:36:07,279
that everyone will be able to walk in
964
00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:09,980
the blessing that God has for him and
965
00:36:07,279 --> 00:36:13,700
the scripture tells us it's more blessed
966
00:36:09,980 --> 00:36:17,020
to give than it is to receive amen can I
967
00:36:13,700 --> 00:36:17,020
just ask you to close your eyes and be